Visionic blog

Visionic Spectrum Analyzer is a client-server program. In many cases, the client can be physically far away from the server; and in such cases there are security measures such as firewalls, routers and so on, that need to be taken into account.

The goal of this text is to explain and specify which IP ports are used. This text can be used by system engineers and network administrators to allow specific ports between Visionic SA client and the server.

The Visionic Spectrum Analyzer streams the data from the instrument to all of its clients. Like most of the streaming protocols, the Visionic Spectrum Analyzer uses UDP to disseminate the trace (information from the instrument) to all its clients.

At the same time, the Spectrum Analyzer Server has one TCP/IP port opened to accept command and control instructions coming from different clients.

Please refer to the picture below where you can see the initial handshaking negotiations between Visionic Spectrum Analyzer Server and Client:

As we can see from the image above, following IP ports are used:

The Visionic Spectrum Analyzer 2.0 (VSA) is an Add-On and Standalone software solution which will enable the user, through an intuitive GUI, to perform advanced analysis and signal measurements.

VSA allows remote monitoring of your physical devices; it can monitor different VSA devices from various PCs, anywhere on the network.

With VSA, you will have the ability to monitor and control your physical devices remotely and without any interruption. You will also be able to monitor different devices from various PCs anywhere on the network.

The software has all the features of the physical, hardware SA device included but is improved with a broad range of smart add-ons.

One of the most valuable features of VSA is logging and log playing-out. SA logs all the information coming from the instrument (signal trace, commands issued, alarms, alarm box).The process of logging is automated and logs are stored for 30 days. This feature allows operator to play back the behavior of the instrument in the past and inspect closely the problems that occurred.

All the information coming from the instrument is logged and then the data is exported to an .avi file, so that the user can graphically see what was happening during a specified period of time, anytime he desires.

VSA includes a configurable surveillance zone (Alarm Box), in which the signal is expected to be found. If not, an alarm is raised. This feature is designed to control the quality of the monitored signal. It defines limits (min/max frequency and min/max power) where the signal is expected to be present. In case the signal power deteriorates, an alarm is generated and sent to registered alarm listeners.

Moreover, the Visionic Spectrum Analyzer has an extended compatibility. The software solution will function with any manufacturer, such as Agilent, Rohde & Schwartz and many others. Our Spectrum Analyzer is easily extendable to any device with a connection interface to PC. The way users can connect the Spectrum Analyzer to a device is limited by the specific device’s communication capabilities (interfaces) only.

You will have uninterrupted remote monitoring of your physical devices, as well as remote real-time interaction with any spectrum analyzer devices.

The signal graph will appear on your monitor just like on your physical device. Moreover, it presents command buttons from the instrument, allowing you to control the physical SA remotely. Regardless of the manufacturer, the command board is presented in a same way. Sometimes, it needs time simply to learn how to use a new instrument. In Spectrum Analyzer, all the parameter settings, each command button is at the same place regardless of the instruments connected. And it remains the same for any additional instrument. Furthermore, the operator can fully customize the front panel of the application and tailor it according to his/her preferences.

Furthermore, the VSA unifies graphical user interface of various equipment, thus making the switching of the equipment transparent to the operator.

VSA includes SNMP agent, which issues SNMP traps in case of alarms/anomalies. This allows any SNMP Manager system to receive SNMP notifications about state of Spectrum Analyzer instruments.

The Connection setup is done in SAserver GUI. To configure connection details, simply select desired tab (LAN, VISA or SERIAL), and then fill the available fields with the correct data.

The Visionic Spectrum Analyzer can create presets for the physical device. Our application is able to save them in a local file or on the server, which allows not only loading presets later, but sharing them easily with other clients as well.

Lastly, VSA can be integrated with the higher level M&C - Visionic system, as a typical element or device, without any difficulty. Just like with any other device, Visionic is capable of presenting and logging Spectrum Analyzer’s alarms, statuses and other parameters.

The Spectrum Analyzer option can be used as an independent program, or as a device included in the Visionic schematic. The Spectrum Analyzer subsystem allows complete control over the device, along with options for logging different data points (such as centre frequency and centre amplitude). The analyzers can be connected via LAN and serial port (Agilent) or via USB ports (R&S). 

For more information, please visit our website: www.intorel.com.

Intorel is announcing the latest version of its industry standard software for monitoring and controlling systems: Visionic 5.1.

We have improved installation process in Visionic 5.1 and removed setup dependency on .NET framework 3.5, as to answer clients demanding Visionic to run on .NET Framework 2.0.
Sending server message to reload client project and propagating these changes to remote clients is automated in Visionic 5.1.

At the same time, we have answered the challenge of importing the projects on server when they are titled the same as the existing ones.

Also, we have integrated Help file within the software, and we are making sure that our online version of help (help.intorel.com) is always present and updated regularly.

Visionic 5.1 is designed to provide integration of all your subsystems into a single, convenient solution. From there, you can detect, connect and operate your remote or in-house equipment in any way you can possibly imagine.

Since 2002, when Intorel launched the first version of Visionic, the product has been carefully revised and improved, as to become what it is today - industry standard, proven by hundreds of systems and recommended by the most distinguished companies around the world.

Visionic is designed to be used by any industrial monitoring, controlling and automating application that requires reliability, automation and advanced features. In particular,

Visionic products have been used for:
DVB-S/S2 Satellite Uplink Stations, VSAT Systems, TVRO Systems, Fixed and Mobile Microwave Links, DSNG Systems, Fiber Optic Systems, DVB-T Encoding & Multiplexing Headends, ATM/SDH/PDH/IP TransportNetworks and IPTV Head-ends.

For more details about Visionic 5.1, please refer to our Visionic 5.1 Release Notes or take a look at help.intorel.com.

Intorel engineers have been working hard these days. And it paid off – they came up with a new solution … . It is rich in features, easy to install and extremely convenient to use. Visionic Carrier Monitoring is a simple, automated TV/ Radio / other channels monitoring solution. This solution is designed for broadcasting, satellite and other telecom operators that require a reliable and rich in features carrier monitoring system.

Visionic Carrier Monitoring provides continuous monitoring of signal carriers in order to ensure highest quality standards, improves the capability of satellite providers/telecom companies to react promptly and effectively to anomaly events and provides assistance in solving problems.

One of the most attractive features of this solution is the fact that it automatically measures the relevant data and makes them transparent to the user in various forms, such as webpage reports, cvs files and other.

It supports a wide range of monitoring equipment like spectrum analyzers, down converters, switching units and similar.

The architecture and functionality is carefully optimized to support the operators in their daily tasks, thus simplifying the process learning how to use it.

Visionic Carrier Monitoring System can be deployed as a turnkey solution or modified to fit particular needs. More information can be found here.

Hello all,

We’re preparing Visionic FAQ document. Many people asked for it, even more need it. The current working copy is here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W6_7fFhwFJO2CDKa0YP_rCBwVabD_bXFIPwwdOn09cA/edit

Visionic is a 32 bit application, which means that it will not work properly with Microsoft Office 2010 64 bit (Visio 2010 64 bit).

If you install Visio 2010 64bit on your machine, the installation of Visionic5.exe will not succeed for Visionic Designer part, and Visionic add-Ins menu will not be installed in Visio 2010 64bit. This situation is displayed hereunder.

If you check the Visionic Switchboard, you will see that the Design tab remains enabled (grey) as shown below.

 In Visio 2010, you will not be able to open a Visionic template (and consequently to create a new Visionic project) and Add-Ins Visionic menu will not be installed in Visio.

You will find on next figure the correct list of software components, installed with preinstalled Visio 2010 32bit.

If you cannot see Visionic Add-Ins menu in Visio and/or if you cannot find Visionic Designer software component installed in the Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features, please:

1.       uninstall Visionic 5 (all installed Visionic components)

2.       uninstall Microsoft Office 64bit (or Visio 2010 64bit component only)

3.       reinstall Microsoft Office 2010 32bit (or Visio 2010 32bit component only)

4.       reinstall Visionic 5.

The high-resolution Earth-imaging satellite, capable of discerning objects on the Earth’s surface as small as 0.25-meter (9.75 inch) in size, known as GeoEye-2 is almost ready to start orbiting.  

Namely, Lockheed Martin will begin the integration of the satellite by the end of the month. The integration will be followed by installation and testing of satellite components, and hopefully, the project delivery at the beginning of 2012.

According to the Bill Schuster, GeoEye’s chief operating officer, the project is ahead of schedule. However, people from the Lockheed Martin’s Space & Technology Center where the satellite has been manufactured, are to some extent cautious, since they still have a long way to go.

According to the Allen Anderson, GeoEye-2 program director, the completion of the propulsion system installation and the start of vehicle integration is a next critical step in this project.

Read more:http://www.satprnews.com/2011/10/26/lockheed-martin-begins-geoeye-2-satellite-integration/

It is often required to export recorded Visionic macros to the VBScript. This option can be useful in variety of situations. For example:

• Allow your macros to be started from another process as command-line processes
• Allows you to customize operations in the macros using VBScript language
• Allows your macros to be started from a scheduled job (cron job) to periodically perform operations.

The export function is not a part of Visionic5, mostly because of the changing nature of the macro language as we know it. In the last days of Visionic4, the language has been rapidly expanded to include new instructions, such as looping through record set and similar. These new features blocked the existing “Export to VBScript” functionality.

In this blog, you can download vbscript-files-that-will-export-visionic5-macros-from-the-project-into-the-vbscript-language.zip. The process is very simple and can be done in the following way:

Unzip all files into the single directory and then from the command prompt execute this command:

cscript.exe export_macro.vbs //nologo “<full path to compiled MDB file>” “<macro name>” >macro.vbs

In the command line above, replace the following:

Once the script is exported, open the generated VBS file in a file editor. As you can see the macro is “embedded” in the sub called “RunMacro”. At the top of the code there is initialization routine for the parameters; you can change this instruction to provide macro parameters from command line or similar.

The macro can be run with the command:

cscript macro.vbs

The constants on the top of the resulting VBS file dictate the IP address of the server (whether the server is on local machine or not).

Once exported, the macro can be manually updated as necessary. Feel free to change macro’s code and experiment with the VisApp object (source of which is at the end of the file).

It is indeed a great pleasure to invite you for a friendly gathering and a launch of our new product, Visionic 5.

It is intended to introduce you to our new software solution, and to provide an opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues from the industry.

The event is scheduled for 7:00 pm. September 11, 2011 at the meeting room of the Novotel Amsterdam City Hotel.

The hotel is situated in Amsterdam’s business district, right by the Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Center:

Novotel Amsterdam City Hotel
Europaboulevard 10

1083 AD AMSTERDAM

NETHERLANDS

Tel (+31)20/7219179

Fax (+31)20/6462823

The welcome drink and appetizers are available from 7:00 pm. and the product presentation is scheduled from 8:00 pm. to 10:00 pm.

Please confirm your presence since the number of invitations is limited.

We are looking forward to see you there.

Visionic5 upgrade is ready, the question is: are you?

 With its outstanding new features, intergraded wizards and a range of tools, Visionic5 will become your one and only partner in day-to-day business, sufficient to handle more than you can imagine.

 It is not only M&C solution anymore; it is a skillful guide for novices, playground for experienced operators and reliable associate for engineers.

 Intorel Visionic solutions have always been designed to support your business and allow you to get the most out of your investment. Keeping up the same tradition, Intorel has decided to reduce the price of Visionic 5 upgrade to only 50% of the original price you paid for your Visionic system. Regardless of the Visionic version installed in your organization (Visionic 1, 2, 3 or 4), you can now upgrade to the most recent edition available, Visionic5.

This one-of-a kind offer is available only until 15^th of December 2011 and represents a unique opportunity to get up to date with your company’s software.

As always, Intorel is more than happy to address all your questions and concerns. For further information, please contact sales@intorel.com.